Water System Report LA

Gowc East Water System

EPA ID: LA1073121 ยท 11,742 people served ยท 3 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Gowc East Water System (LA1073121): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Zero EPA violations over five years - Gowc East Water System has kept tap water compliance clean for its full service population of 11,742.

Data: EPA SDWIS

11,742
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.002 mg/L
Max Lead Level
0
Contaminants Flagged
$181K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Gowc East Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$48,259
Median Household Income
45,231
Service Area Population
67%
Disadvantaged Population
73th
Poverty Percentile
77th
Energy Burden Percentile
45%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Gowc East Water System serves a community with a median household income of $48,259 and an estimated 45,231 residents across its service area. Approximately 45% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 67% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Gowc East Water System's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
33th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

38 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
32 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 54% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.

Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Louisiana

A 0 violations
2 violations
A 0 violations
A 3 violations
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,600
Water Filtration $600
PFAS Treatment $167
Total Estimated Cost $2,367

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,367 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Gowc East Water System (EPA ID: LA1073121) is a community water system in Louisiana that serves approximately 11,742 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.002 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by LA or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Gowc East Water System (LA1073121) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gowc East Water System water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Gowc East Water System in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Gowc East Water System serve?

Gowc East Water System serves approximately 11,742 people across 3 ZIP codes in Louisiana.

Where does Gowc East Water System get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
116

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
Gowc East Water System meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Gowc East Water System serve?
Gowc East Water System serves approximately 11,742 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Gowc East Water System's water source?
Gowc East Water System draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Gowc East Water System's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.002 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Gowc East Water System's service area?
The Gowc East Water System service area has a median household income of $48,259. EPA EJScreen data classifies 67% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Gowc East Water System get its water?
Gowc East Water System's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Gowc East Water System, LA: Serves 12K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/la1073121/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-la1073121,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Gowc East Water System, LA: Serves 12K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/la1073121/}
}
Home Water Systems Louisiana Gowc East Water System

Get safety alerts for Gowc East Water System, Louisiana

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool - no phone call required.